Advice for holiday travelers crossing the U.S.-Canada border

Buffalo, New York – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) anticipates a rise in border traffic during the upcoming holiday season.

“We typically observe a rise in traffic at all of our ports of entry during the holiday season,” stated Jeffrey Toth, public affairs liaison for the Buffalo Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“Typically, we analyze multiple years of historical data to ensure we staff our ports of entry effectively to manage the anticipated rise in traffic,” he stated.

Border Protection is considering significant volumes in both trade and travel.

Toth remarked, “It’s somewhat of a guessing game.” “We are uncertain about what we will face and how many individuals we might observe crossing. That’s why we analyze those figures to make our most informed estimate.”

What is the key aspect of staffing the border during the holiday season?

“It is essential that we uphold our mission for border security,” Toth stated. Our main priority is that. Ensuring that remains our top focus.

Their objective is to deter criminal activities along the border, not just during the holiday season but throughout the entire year.

“We consistently concentrate on the same priorities,” Toth stated. “Counterfeit items, narcotics, and any form of criminal activity, including wants and warrants, are all included in this context.” We are seeking individuals who clearly do not belong here.

Border Protection emphasizes the importance of having a plan for crossing the border, particularly during the holiday season.

“Whenever feasible, we consistently recommend that travelers cross during non-peak hours,” Toth stated. “This essentially falls within a window from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” They might prefer to travel at different times since those periods are usually a bit more crowded.

Authorities are advising travelers to prepare their travel documents as they near the border and to be honest when speaking at the booth.

“Make sure to declare any items you’re bringing in,” Toth stated. “During this holiday season, it’s important to declare any specific items related to the festivities, such as gifts, food, plants, and similar items. Ensure that all of these are properly declared.”